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John Hicks, Victor Martinez lead Tigers to win over White Sox

Posted: 11:56 PM, Jun 15, 2018

Updated:2018-06-16 03:56:41Z

By:
Patrick Rose, Associated Press

Copyright Getty Images

David Banks

<p>CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 15: John Hicks #55 of the Detroit Tigers is safe at home as Omar Narvaez #38 of the Chicago White Sox makes a late tag during the eighth inning on June 15, 2018 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)</p>

CHICAGO (AP) -- John Hicks homered and scored the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice in the eighth inning as the Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 on Friday night.

Victor Martinez had a two-run double to help the Tigers improve to 4-0 at Guaranteed Rate Field this season, and 6-1 overall against the White Sox. James McCann had three hits.

Buck Farmer (2-3) got one out in the seventh for the win and Alex Wilson pitched out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the eighth. Wilson got Charlie Tilson to hit a grounder to Hicks at first, who threw to home for the force out before Adam Engel grounded out.

Shane Greene pitched a scoreless ninth for his 18th save in 21 chances as the Tigers won their third straight.

Hicks led off the eighth with a single off White Sox reliever Juan Minaya (0-1) and later tagged from second on James McCann's flyout to right. With the infield in and one out, Victor Reyes hit a grounder to first baseman Jose Abreu. Abreu juggled the ball on the transfer allowing Hicks to beat the throw to the plate.

White Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez came in 1-1 with a 1.85 ERA in his last ?ve home starts, but wasn't sharp early.

In the second inning, Hicks hit Lopez's 2-0 pitch over the center-field wall for his sixth homer of the season. Martinez added a two-run double in the third to push Detroit's lead to 3-0.

Lopez settled down after the third and made it through six innings. He gave up three runs and nine hits.

With one out in the sixth, Tigers starter Mike Fiers gave up back-to-back to singles before Omar Narvaez hit his first home run of the season to tie the score. On the next pitch, Fiers hit Tim Anderson with an offspeed pitch. Anderson took exception and had a few words for Fiers as he walked to first. The White Sox bench started to empty, but the situation was quickly defused.

Narvaez hit his first homer since Sept. 2, 2017, against the Rays.

Fiers allowed three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: Miguel Cabrera had successful surgery on his left biceps tendon on Thursday. Cabrera, who is out for the rest of the season is expected to return for spring training.
White Sox: OF Avisail Garcia, who is rehabbing a strained a right hamstring was 1 for 4 with an RBI double for Triple-A Charlotte. He will be re-evaluated on Saturday. Garcia hit his first home run of the rehab assignment along with a double and three RBI on Thursday night.

FIRST PITCH
UFC heavyweight Curtis Blaydes threw out the first pitch. He is currently the No. 2 heavyweight contender in the UFC and is coming off a third-round TKO win over Alistair Overeem.

UP NEXT
Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (2-0) is scheduled to make his first appearance since May 5 due to a right shoulder injury.
White Sox: RHP Lucas Lucas Giolito (4-7) is 1-4 with a 11.63 ERA at home this season.

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